Friday, January 2, 2009

Lifeless Entertainment

The title of this blog is an example of a paradox. A paradox is a statement that, at first glance, appears false or contradictory, but when further investigated may prove true. Lifeless implies something dull, boring, and mundane. While entertainment implies excitement, frivolity, and merriness. So how can entertainment be lifeless! Well, let's look into it more. Is television entertainment? I should hope so! They don't call TVs and gaming systems home entertainment systems for nothing! Now, is television sometimes lifeless? Personally, I think so. When nothing is on, it gets rather dull. When you're playing a video game that you've beaten once, twice, maybe even three times. It gets really boring! So clearly, entertainment can be lifeless. Which brings me to the following request. I want you to think of as many paradoxes as you can. When you think of a good one, tell me it. Comment this post. I want to see what kind of crazy, illogical things you can think up (as well as enlightening philosophic ideas. They're fun too.) If I like some of them, perhaps I will write a post elaborating on them (in one form or another).

4 comments:

Well, I realize that the year isn't quite so new anymore, but I think that the idea of New Year's Resolutions is a paradox.

The whole point of New Year's Resolutions is to do something new. To break old habits. To make a fresh start for the new year. But many people make them, and break them, every year, sometimes the same ones every year. Hence, a paradox. The whole process and tradition of making resolutions defies the new year spirit and the reason for making them in the first place.

That amuses me. It's kind of like conforming to non-conformity. This idea of "let's make a tradition of breaking traditions!" Well, I suppose it's a nice try but apparently New Year's Resolutions are self-contradicting epic failures.

This is such a small, coincidental world. I'm reading a play and in class, we were just discussing what a paradox was the other day. (The play is full of them.)

I agree entertainment can be lifeless. But perhaps, when people say lifeless, they are talking about the way humans watch t.v. or play video games. Have you ever observed someone playing a game or watching t.v.? They sit in one position staring at a screen for looooong spans of time. Sometimes, they even forget to blink. Have you ever tried talking to someone in game mode or in the middle of a movie? They usually tell you to "shush" or just completely ignore you.

So, maybe, lifeless refers to the way games and t.v. turn humans into zombies...

If you can no longer resist the temptation to talk to me...

Playing on my Piano . . .

Composer: Andrew McMahon

Song: Konstantine

A Modern Myth

Ever since my fifteen birthday, things have changed so dramatically. I have become allergic to the sun, my eyes have become constantly dilated, I have ceased to be a vegetarian and now eat only meat, and I have begun to sleep all day and stay up all night. The weirdest part about it all is also the best part. It turns out that I have long lost cousins that review books and they have invited me to join them. I gladly accepted in order to find meaning in my semi-charmed life.